Crane Country Day School is a co-educational Kindergarten-8th grade independent day school located on a beautiful 11-acre campus in Montecito, CA. Crane provides an experiential education characterized by a thoughtful balance of academic challenge and creative expression. We thrive as a community that builds character and confidence, while celebrating the joy in learning. At Crane, we understand that how we teach is just as important as what we teach. It is a welcoming and supportive place to work—a rich environment where you will find enthusiastic cooperation, healthy relationships with colleagues, and active professional development.

Crane Country Day School seeks a qualified Design & Engineering Center Co-Teacher. The ideal candidate for this position has a genuine passion for making and building, and seeks to ignite that same spark of curiosity in the classroom. They thrive in the energetic buzz of a workshop where sawdust and big ideas fly, while also understanding the importance of thoughtfully scaffolding complex engineering concepts for learners ages 6–14.

This individual values the iterative design process and flourishes in a feedback-rich environment, continually refining their craft in service of both their own growth and their students’ learning. They may not claim to know everything, but they actively support their own inquiry-based journey alongside the experiential learning of their students.

A love of hands-on creation is essential. The ideal candidate enjoys working with both traditional hand tools and modern, 21st-century technologies, bringing a creative spark that excites students and invests them deeply in the projects they undertake.

They understand that a dynamic makerspace requires both inspiration and structure. A strong commitment to lab safety is embedded in their daily practice, as they skillfully maintain oversight of an ever-changing environment. Quick-thinking and action-oriented, they approach the daily chaos of teaching with grace, flexibility, and a spirit of possibility.

• Collaborate with Leadership
  Partner closely with the Director of the Design & Engineering Lab (DEC)/ to facilitate daily classroom operations, lesson implementation, and projects. 

• Student Support & Instruction
  Work directly with students in small groups and one-on-one settings to support skill development in design, engineering, and makerspace learning during classes, study halls, and other flexible learning times.

• Classroom Culture & Management
  Facilitate classroom management practices aligned with Crane’s mission and experiential learning philosophy. This teacher will be expected to reinforce expectations, monitor behavior, and address disruptions in partnership with the Director of the Design & Engineering Lab (DEC).

• Safety & Makerspace Stewardship
  Model and uphold all lab and shop safety protocols and maintain an organized, safe, and inclusive workshop environment.

• Equity & Inclusion
  Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by fostering a welcoming classroom culture where all students feel seen, valued, and empowered to participate.

• Supervision Duties
  Supervise students during recess, lunch, transitions, and other designated times as assigned.

• Program & Project Support
  Collaborate with lesson planning, materials preparation, and project coordination, including Lower School cohort classes and monthly STEM challenges.

• Technical & Equipment Support
  Operate, maintain, and support student use of makerspace equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, power tools, and hand tools. Develop proficiency in design software such as TinkerCAD and Adobe Illustrator.

• Administrative Support
  Prepare materials, organize supplies, create and distribute handouts, maintain student records, and grading as needed.

• Community Engagement
  Attend staff meetings, professional gatherings, and school events as required.

• Additional Duties
  Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Head of Upper School or Director of the Design & Engineering Lab (DEC)

Requirements and Key Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree in Education  or associated field preferred.

• Compassionate and efficient worker with exceptional interpersonal skills.

• Strong written communication skills.

• Extremely organized with a high attention to detail.

• High energy and enthusiasm for working in an academic setting; enjoys being part of a team but is also self-motivated with excellent follow through.

• Experience working with a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, aptitudes, and learning differences.

• Demonstrated technology skills

Physical and Other Requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking in classrooms and throughout campus.

• Regularly bend, kneel, or squat to be at eye level with children.

• Work in person onsite.

• Background investigation required via Live Scan.

• TB assessment required for employment in CA schools.

About Crane Country Day School

Crane Country Day School, ideally located in the small seaside village of Montecito, is just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles and 5 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Crane is the oldest independent school in the area, having just launched its 85th anniversary celebration. It is a co-educational day school serving 250 children. The Lower School (grades K-5) and the Upper School (grades 6-8) are both located on the same sprawling yet cozy 11-acre campus that is one of the school's best-known attributes. Honoring its founder's vision, Crane School is dedicated to providing an experiential education characterized by a thoughtful balance of academic challenge and creative expression. We thrive as a community that builds character and confidence, while celebrating the joy in learning.

Connections working at Crane Country Day School